Ponies debuts on HBO Max on May 28, 2026. Created by Susanna Fogel and David Iserson, this eight-episode espionage series stars Emilia Clarke, Haley Lu Richardson and Adrian Lester in a tale set in Moscow in 1977, at the heart of Cold War tensions.
Ponies
Series | 2026
Available on HBO Max on May 28, 2026
Spy thriller | 8 episodes of 60 minutes
Created by Susanna Fogel, David Iserson | Starring Emilia Clarke, Haley Lu Richardson, Adrian Lester
Original title: Ponies
Nationality: United States
In Moscow, in 1977, two secretaries at the American Embassy work behind the scenes. In spy lingo, “ponies” are those deemed unimportant. Their ordinary lives are turned upside down when their husbands die under mysterious circumstances in the USSR.
Following a string of inexplicable deaths, Bea and Twila are recruited by the CIA. Bea, the daughter of Soviet immigrants and a Russian speaker, teams up with Twila, a fearless woman from a small American town. Together, they set out to uncover the conspiracy behind their husbands’ deaths, all while stepping into a world of espionage they were never meant to enter.
With its late-1970s Soviet backdrop, Ponies sits squarely in the historical espionage thriller lane. The series should appeal to fans of Cold War narratives, international conspiracies, and female duos propelled into surveillance-heavy, politically manipulative environments.
Haley Lu Richardson has been nominated for the Gotham TV Awards 2026 for her supporting performance. The series also marks the return of Emilia Clarke to a leading TV role, after several projects in film and television.
Trailer for Ponies:
To go further, also check out our selection of HBO Max's May 2026 new releases, our guide to streaming releases across all platforms, and today's streaming pick: What to watch today in streaming.
This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.
